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The U.S. Supreme Court today refused to consider a Michigan blogger’s challenge of the use of
full-body scanners and thorough pat-downs at airport checkpoints.

Without comment, the court declined to take up Jeffrey Corbett’s complaint that the
Transportation Security Administration’s use of the screening techniques violated passengers’
protection against illegal searches under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The TSA had in October 2010 directed the use of the scanners, sometimes known as advanced
imaging technology, which some critics fear could emit too much radiation.

In addition, the TSA authorized enhanced pat-downs, which could include the touching of
genitals, buttocks and breasts, for passengers unwilling to go through the scanners. Passengers who
rejected both procedures would not be allowed to fly.

Corbett, who maintains the “TSA Out of Our Pants!” blog, complained that the TSA lacked
unilateral authority to adopt the procedures.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta had rejected Corbett’s case, saying a lower
court correctly concluded that it did not have jurisdiction to review a TSA order.